Swiss Solidarity
A Swiss humanitarian fundraising foundation that mobilises donations for people affected by disasters, conflicts, poverty and social vulnerability.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Swiss Solidarity is a Swiss nonprofit foundation and humanitarian fundraising institution associated with the public-service broadcaster SRG SSR. Known in the country's language regions as Glückskette, Chaîne du Bonheur, Catena della Solidarietà and Chadaina da Fortuna, it turns nationwide media appeals into donations for people affected by natural disasters, wars, health emergencies and social hardship. The organisation generally does not deliver aid directly. Instead, it raises and administers funds, selects experienced Swiss partner organisations, and supports their emergency, rehabilitation and reconstruction projects. The initiative began in 1946 as a French-language radio programme on Radio Sottens, created by producer Roger Nordmann and entertainer Jack Rollan in the difficult aftermath of the Second World War. Its first appeal sought help for children injured or orphaned by war. The programme's format encouraged a continuing chain of good deeds, and the concept soon spread from French-speaking Switzerland to German- and Italian-speaking broadcasters. By 1948, the appeal was being carried nationally through Radio Beromünster and Radio Monte Ceneri, while broadcasters in several European cities also participated in related solidarity activities. The organisation became an independent foundation in 1983. Its institutional model combines media reach with specialist humanitarian review. SRG SSR and other media partners provide public visibility and broadcast access, while Swiss Solidarity's governing and project bodies assess applications, approve grants and monitor the use of donations. The foundation emphasises accountability, transparency and the careful administration of restricted appeal funds. Its project portfolio has included disaster reconstruction, shelter, health, water and sanitation, livelihoods, child protection, education and support for people affected by armed conflict. Swiss Solidarity's campaigns have responded both to overseas emergencies and to crises within Switzerland. Its largest appeal followed the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, which raised approximately CHF 227.7 million. Other major collections addressed storms in Switzerland, the Kosovo conflict, the Haiti earthquake, Typhoon Haiyan, floods in Pakistan and Asia, the COVID-19 pandemic in Switzerland and the war in Ukraine. In 2022, the Ukraine appeal generated roughly CHF 130 million, among the largest totals in the foundation's history. The figures represent donation collections associated with particular appeals rather than ordinary commercial revenue. In Switzerland, the foundation also supports people facing gaps in the social system, particularly adolescents and young adults who need help with social and professional integration. Internationally, it works through a network of established aid organisations, including Swiss Red Cross, Caritas Switzerland, Helvetas, Medair, Médecins Sans Frontières Switzerland, Save the Children and other specialist partners. Its public identity was refreshed in 2013 with the signature "Switzerland in solidarity," reinforcing its role as a national mechanism for collective giving. Swiss Solidarity remains active as a fundraising and grant-making foundation rather than a conventional consumer brand.
History
Swiss Solidarity originated in the French-speaking part of Switzerland during the difficult social and humanitarian conditions that followed the Second World War. Radio producer Roger Nordmann and entertainer Jack Rollan created the first programme in 1946 on Radio Sottens, now part of RTS. Their initial appeal, broadcast on 26 September 1946, sought support for children harmed by the war. The programme's distinctive idea was a continuing chain of good deeds: one participant could propose the next act of generosity, helping keep the appeal active and connecting entertainment with public giving. The concept quickly crossed linguistic and regional boundaries. In 1947, broadcasts and collections reached Basel and Lugano. The first German-speaking collection supported Swiss soldiers who had suffered severe poisoning after machine-gun oil was mistakenly used as cooking oil. In 1948, Radio Beromünster and Radio Monte Ceneri joined the French-language service, making the solidarity chain a nationwide Swiss initiative. Related broadcasts also involved stations in cities including Paris, Trieste, Vienna, Monte Carlo and Baden-Baden. Early collections supported a wide range of needs, from war orphans and elderly people to people needing warmth, rehabilitation or income-generating work. Examples included a chocolate collection, a used-felt-hat collection for making slippers, and a wool collection for people suffering from cold. The initiative continued for decades as a media-supported mechanism for rapid public mobilisation. Its role broadened from immediate relief to longer-term recovery and reconstruction. Swiss Solidarity became an independent foundation in 1983, establishing a more formal governance and accountability framework for the management of donations. Its foundation bodies include a Foundation Board, a board committee, financial and investment oversight, project commissions for international and Swiss programmes, an accreditation commission, an executive body and auditors. The Foundation Board can include representatives of SRG SSR as well as partner aid organisations and humanitarian specialists. Large-scale disasters and conflicts demonstrated the reach of the model. Appeals supported victims of severe weather in Switzerland, the Kosovo conflict, the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, the 2010 Haiti earthquake, Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines, flooding in Pakistan and Asia, and other emergencies. The tsunami appeal in December 2004 collected approximately CHF 227.7 million, the largest total identified in the available reference material. The organisation has also funded programmes for children and for vulnerable people in Switzerland, including support for young people aged approximately 15 to 25 who face barriers to social or professional integration. Swiss Solidarity's operating model is based on partnerships rather than direct field operations. Once donations are collected, independent project commissions examine proposals from experienced Swiss relief organisations. Review areas can include public health, construction, water and sanitation, child protection and economic recovery. Approved projects may cover emergency assistance, rehabilitation and sustainable reconstruction. Monitoring is treated as an important part of the foundation's responsibility, particularly because donors expect appeals to be used for their stated humanitarian purposes. The organisation expanded its international coordination role in 2008 by helping establish the Emergency Appeals Alliance with comparable bodies in several countries. In Switzerland, SRF and Swiss Solidarity ran the annual Jeder Rappen zählt, or Every Cent Counts, campaign from 2009 through 2018. In 2013, the foundation introduced a new visual identity and the line "Switzerland in solidarity," presenting itself as an expression of the country's collective response to crisis. Its 250th collection in 2019 focused on women affected by neglected crises. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it raised CHF 43,457,744 for people in Switzerland, and its 2022 appeal for victims of the war in Ukraine collected approximately CHF 130 million. Swiss Solidarity remains an active, independent humanitarian fundraising foundation supported by SRG SSR and a broad network of specialist aid partners.
- 2022
Ukraine war appeal
[1]A March appeal raises approximately CHF 130 million for victims of the war in Ukraine.
- 2020
Coronavirus Switzerland campaign
[1]The pandemic appeal raises CHF 43,457,744 for people affected by the crisis in Switzerland.
- 2019
250th collection for women in forgotten crises
[1]The foundation dedicates its 250th collection to women affected by crises receiving limited international attention.
- 2013
Identity refresh
[1]A new visual identity and the line "Switzerland in solidarity" reinforce the foundation's national positioning.
- 2008
Emergency Appeals Alliance founded
[1]Swiss Solidarity helps establish an international alliance of organisations with comparable emergency-fundraising structures.
- 2004
Indian Ocean tsunami appeal
[1]The tsunami appeal collects approximately CHF 227.7 million, the largest reported fundraising total in the available material.
- 1999
International Human Rights Award
[1]The organisation receives an International Human Rights Award recognising its humanitarian work, including assistance in Kosovo.
- 1983
Independent foundation established
[1]Swiss Solidarity adopts the legal form of an independent foundation.
- 1948
Nationwide broadcasting
[1]Radio Beromünster and Radio Monte Ceneri join the French-language service, extending the solidarity chain across Switzerland.
- 1947
First national expansion
[1]The initiative spreads to Basel and Lugano and begins collecting nationally for Swiss soldiers poisoned by machine oil.
Products and positioning
A trusted, nationally recognised Swiss solidarity and humanitarian fundraising institution connecting public media, donors and professional aid organisations.
Humanitarian fundraising · 1946
Emergency fundraising appeals
National media campaigns invite the Swiss public to donate in response to major disasters, wars, epidemics and other emergencies. Appeals are promoted through SRG SSR and private media partners, allowing the organisation to mobilise substantial funds quickly while directing donations toward defined humanitarian needs.
Humanitarian aid financing
International humanitarian project grants
Swiss Solidarity finances projects implemented by experienced Swiss relief organisations. Grants can cover emergency response, rehabilitation and longer-term reconstruction, with thematic work in health, shelter, water and sanitation, child protection, livelihoods and economic recovery.
Domestic social assistance
Swiss social-support projects
Within Switzerland, the foundation supports local partners where gaps exist in the social safety system. A particular focus is assistance for adolescents and young adults who need help entering education, employment or wider social life.
Accountability service · 1983
Donation oversight and project monitoring
The foundation's project commissions review funding applications, assess implementing organisations and monitor longer-term projects. This administrative and oversight function is central to its promise that collected funds will be used carefully, transparently and for appropriate humanitarian purposes.
Marketing campaigns
- 2022Ukraine war appeal
Switzerland · Ukraine · Neighbouring host countries
Swiss Solidarity mobilised donations for people affected by the war in Ukraine and its displacement and humanitarian consequences.
Outcome. Approximately CHF 130 million was collected.
- 2020Coronavirus Switzerland
Switzerland
A pandemic appeal supported people in Switzerland facing health, social and economic consequences of COVID-19.
Outcome. The campaign collected CHF 43,457,744.
- 2019250th collection for women in forgotten crises
Switzerland · International
The organisation dedicated its 250th collection to women affected by crises that receive limited public and international attention.
- 2013Typhoon Haiyan appeal
Switzerland · Philippines
The foundation appealed for support for communities affected by Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines.
Outcome. Approximately CHF 42.3 million was collected.
- 2010Haiti earthquake appeal
Switzerland · Haiti
Swiss Solidarity collected donations following the earthquake in Haiti to support humanitarian response and recovery.
Outcome. Approximately CHF 66.2 million was collected.
- 2009Jeder Rappen zählt (Every Cent Counts)
Switzerland
SRF and Swiss Solidarity organised an annual December fundraising campaign combining broadcast programming and public donations.
Outcome. The annual campaign ran from 2009 to 2018.
- 2004Indian Ocean tsunami appeal
Switzerland · Indian Ocean disaster-affected countries
A nationwide appeal responded to the devastating Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, supporting people who were killed, injured, displaced or otherwise affected.
Outcome. Approximately CHF 227.7 million was collected.
Brand decisions
2013
National identity and positioning refreshStrategyBackground
The foundation sought to express its role as a Swiss-wide mechanism for collective solidarity more clearly across its language regions.
Action taken
It introduced a new visual identity and the signature "Switzerland in solidarity."
Aftermath
The refreshed identity linked the organisation more explicitly with Switzerland's public response to humanitarian crises.
2008
Creation of the Emergency Appeals AllianceStrategyBackground
Several countries had humanitarian fundraising organisations with media-linked structures similar to Swiss Solidarity.
Action taken
Swiss Solidarity joined nine organisations in founding the Emergency Appeals Alliance; Spain joined the network later.
Aftermath
The alliance created an international coordination platform for organisations involved in emergency fundraising and humanitarian appeals.
1983
Formalisation as an independent foundationStrategyBackground
The long-running broadcast appeal required a durable institutional structure for administering donations and funding projects.
Action taken
Swiss Solidarity adopted the legal form of an independent foundation with formal governing, financial and project-review bodies.
Aftermath
The foundation model strengthened the separation between public fundraising, professional project assessment and donor oversight.
Recent events
- 2022
Ukraine war appeal raises approximately CHF 130 million[1]
Other
A nationwide campaign collected approximately CHF 130 million for people affected by the war in Ukraine.
- 2020
Coronavirus Switzerland appeal raises more than CHF 43 million[1]
Other
The foundation raised CHF 43,457,744 for people affected by the coronavirus crisis in Switzerland.
- 2013
Swiss Solidarity introduces a new visual identity[1]
Campaign
The organisation refreshed its identity and adopted the positioning line "Switzerland in solidarity."
- 2009
The Every Cent Counts campaign becomes an annual media fixture[1]
Campaign
From 2009 to 2018, SRF and Swiss Solidarity ran the December fundraising programme Jeder Rappen zählt.
- 2008
Swiss Solidarity co-founds the Emergency Appeals Alliance[1]
M&A
The foundation joined comparable fundraising organisations from several countries to establish an international alliance.
- 2004
Tsunami appeal raises CHF 227.7 million[1]
Other
A major appeal for victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami became the foundation's largest reported collection.
- 1983
Swiss Solidarity adopts independent foundation status[1]
Other
The organisation formalised its legal structure as an independent foundation.
- 1948
The solidarity chain becomes a nationwide broadcast initiative[1]
Other
The appeal was taken up by Swiss radio stations in German- and Italian-speaking regions, giving the initiative national reach.
- 1946
Swiss Solidarity is launched as a postwar radio appeal[1]
Other
Roger Nordmann and Jack Rollan established the original French-language radio initiative to raise help for children affected by war and postwar hardship.
Sources2 sources
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